Simon Lichtenberg, founder of Trayton Group in Shanghai and All China Founding Chairman of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in China Photo: Courtesy of Simon Lichtenberg 

China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) shows the unique strength of the world's second largest economy in long-term planning. By carefully mapping out multi-year strategies, China not only supports its own economic growth but also provides stability and predictability for the global economy, Simon Lichtenberg, founder of Trayton Group in Shanghai and All China Founding Chairman of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in China, told the Global Times on Friday, on the sidelines of the ongoing two sessions.

This came as China on Thursday unveiled major development targets for the 2026-30 period as a government work report was submitted to the country's top legislature for deliberation.

As a Danish entrepreneur who has lived in Shanghai for over 30 years, Lichtenberg said he was inspired by the five-year plan. Having participated in legislative consultations and public discussions over the years, he has witnessed China's evolving policies and the active involvement of people from all walks of life—a country where he has studied, built a family, and developed his business.

Lichtenberg is among the foreign business representatives best positioned to provide an objective and comprehensive perspective on China's changes.

His personal journey reflects this engagement. In 1987, after graduating high school, he came to Fudan University in China. In 1995, he founded Trayton Group in Shanghai and has since promoted China-Denmark economic and investment cooperation. His furniture company grew from scratch into a billion-yuan business, exporting high-quality, China-made furniture worldwide.

He highlighted China's recent economic achievements, from 5 percent GDP growth last year to breakthroughs in AI and green energy, as evidence of the government's long-term planning and stability. "This policy continuity has benefited businesses like mine, fostering innovation and high-quality development," he said.

Lichtenberg gave particular praise on China's focus on innovation-led and green development in the five-year plan. According to the Government Work Report, China projects an annual average increase of at least 7 percent in nationwide R&D spending, and envisages a total reduction of 17 percent in carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP between 2026 and 2030. "This shows China's responsible global role, leading in collaboration and sustainability," he said.

Lichtenberg also commended the plan's people-centered focus, from reducing urban-rural gaps to improving wealth distribution and job creation. "These are not just words; previous five-year plans show real implementation," he said.

Moreover, China's continued openness to foreign investment, including visa-free policies and Belt and Road cooperation, reinforces its role as a key global partner, the foreign business representative said.

"In today's uncertain geopolitical environment, China's resilience turns external pressures into opportunities," Lichtenberg added. Strengthening the domestic economy, boosting consumption, expanding the unified market, and enhancing market vitality not only address internal imbalances but also inject stability into the world economy.

"As the world's second-largest economy, China's strong domestic demand can expand markets and fuel innovation, benefiting partners like Denmark and the EU... I encourage more international friends to engage in this vibrant journey, as I have," Lichtenberg concluded.